College is one of the busiest, most stressful times in a person's life.

Most of us go to school full time, work on the side, and try to maintain activity in clubs and having a social life! It all can be pretty overwhelming if you're not organized! Here are 5 easy tips I follow to keep up with my hectic life!

1. Use a planner!

In high school, I never used them! In college, it's my saving grace! They are the cheapest tool to keep you super organized! My advice is as soon as you get your syllabus's write down all the exam dates, assignments, readings, all of it down! I like to keep my planner color coded, it helps me keep everything clear. For example, anything in red either means, assignments due, exam day or a time I have to work. Having a planner helps you see what your month is going to look like: how many exams and what days they are. It also helps you see what you're week is going to be like: what units you're going to be covering, assignment due dates etc! This is such an easy and inexpensive tool to stay organized. If you click here you can find planners costing as low as $5!

2. Write to-do lists!

This helps you prioritize without getting overwhelmed. If you have a lot of things you need to get done, write them out in the order of importance. The most important stuff is on the top and the stuff that could be done but doesn't have to be done towards the bottom. As you complete each task, cross them off! Doing this will give you a sense of accomplishment and continue to help you feel less overwhelmed.

3. Only carry the books/ binders you need for that day

Not only will your back thank you for this one, but it helps focuses on the class that day, rather than that week. As a commuter student, I only carry the binders I need for the classes that day, my laptop to complete homework, and my planner. This makes me forget things less and it's a lighter load.

3. Pack your backpack and pick out your clothes the night before

This seems sort of juvenile, but it saves you a lot of hassle in the morning. If you have an 8:30 class, this will allow you more time to sleep in and get the Starbucks you need to function. Even if your go-to outfit is just leggings and a sweatshirt, it's still super nice not having to worry about finding either of those things the next morning. It's an easy to not only stay organized but to allow yourself to get some extra sleep in the morning.

4. Keep a binder and/or notebook for each class

For science classes, in particular, this is super helpful! It gives you a place for you to store all your notes and label them with tabs by chapter. It keeps things separated so things don't get lost or mixed in with other classes.

5. Use Post it Notes!

Post it notes are the easiest way to write my self reminders! They come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and colors. So I pick the size that fits in my planner best. You can use these for virtually anything! I use them during lectures and in my planner. They could be used for reminders, to-do lists, side notes during lecture and to leave cute notes to your roommates. This is another easy and inexpensive way to stay organized, if you click here you will find tons of different sizes, color and quantity!

I've told you my tips! Now it's your turn to share yours! If you have any tips! Leave them in the comments below!